Collar-fastener.



PATENTED Nov. 24, 1903.

J. BAKER. COLLAR PASTENBR.. APPLIGATION FILD MAY 22. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

W/ T/VE SSE S.'

atented November 24, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. BAKER, OF SOUTIIGATE, KENTUCKY.

COLLAR-FASTEN EQR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,135,` dated November 24, 1903. Application iiled May Z2, 1903. Serial No. 158,307. (No model.)

To a/Z whom t may concern/r Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. BAKER, residing at Southgate, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have inventeda new and Improved Collar-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of a simple, inexpensive, and effective snap-lock fastener more especially designed for fastening the ends of horse-collars, and it comprehends, in combination with a loop portion connected to one of the collar ends, a pivotally-mounted snap-lever of peculiar design secured to the opposing collar end and a special springbearing connection between the pivotal end of said lever and the said opposing collar end whereby when forcibly moved to a predetermined portion of its locking position to automatically complete its locking movement and be held toits locked position against accidental displacement in the ordinary handling or use of the collar.

My invention also consists in certain details of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will be fully eX- plained, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the meeting ends of a horse-collar with my improvements applied. Fig. 2 is a section thereof taken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the parts being in their locked position. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the locking-lever, the latter being turned down and the loop member that coacts therewith in position to be readily disengaged therefrom, the said lever being also shown in dotted lines at the point where its spring-bearing begins to exert the final or locking movement thereof in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of the pivotal end of the locking-lever and its spring-bearing. Fig. 5 is an inverted view of the meeting ends of the collar,show ing a modified construction o f my invention. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section thereof onthe line 6 6 of Fig. 5. A

The horse-collar ends a, a' are of the usual construction and are adapted to be opened or closed in the ordinary manner.

In the preferred constructionof my invention the fastener devices are formed entirely of metal and comprise a plate l, adapted to be secured upon the under face of the collar end a, by screws or rivets, and a hinged member 1a, which is curved to lie snugly over the lower face of the opposing collar member ct', and which is provided with a series of transverse slots 1", the purpose of which will presently appear.

2 designates a spring-metal plate adapted to be secured on the under face ofthe collar end a', and the inneredge of the said plate has lateral extensions which are bent to form a pair of downwardly-projecting ears on the bearing members 2n 2a, each of which is apertured, as at 2b, to receive the pintle ends 3fL of the locking-lever 3, which consists of a single piece of stout spring-wire bent into a bail shape and curved in the direction of its length to lie iiatwise against the under side of the collar end a.' when moved to its locking position. The extremities 2X of the ears 2a are bent inwardly toward each other to form a restricted opening, the bent portions being relatively so arranged that the least width of the said opening is forward of the fulcrnmpoints of the levers 3, and the said parts of the inwardly-bent members of the ears 2a terminate in cams 0c, which cooperate with the spring ends of the lever in such a manner as to force the said lever automatically into its locking position and to hold the same in such position against displacement during the 0rdinary handling or use of the collar. By arranging the parts as described it is manifest that the lever 3 can be readily swung back by finger manipulation to the position shown in Fig. 3 to permit of the ready disconnection of the hinged member 1a therefrom, and when swung back to its locking position the ends thereof, by reason of the restricted opening between the ears 2 and the cam members and the tensile or spring bearing of the pivotal ends of the lever cause it to ily back to the limit of its locking movement and be ixedly held thereat. The bearing members 2sb also act as lock members, as they are adapted to project through the slot of the hinged member l when the latter is swung over to a locking position, the lever 3 acting as the means for firmly holding the hinged member la in a locking engagement with the lugs or ears 2a.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is illustrated a slightly modified construction of my invention in which the same general features of the form shown in Figs. l to et are embodied, the alternative construction consisting in connecting the slotted or hinged member lfL to the end of a strap a5, which is joined with the collar end a in any desired manner and has its end 5 looped in a slot a6 in the hinged memberjlf, and the latter has an integral rearwardly-projecting locking-hook a7 for lirmly securing the looped ends on the strap.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed the advantages of my improved fastener devices will be readily apparent.

In the preferred construction the members l, l, and 2 can be readily stamped up, and by reason thereof and forming the lever 3 of a single piece of stout spring-wire the said devices can be economically made and readily assembled for use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a fastener device as described, the combination with the slotted plate hinged to one of the collar ends and curved to lap over the other collar end; of a plate adapted to be secured to the said other collar end, said plate having outwardly-bent projecting ears, each of said ears having an aperture and having their extremities bent inwardly to form a restricted space therebetween, and a lockinglever formed of a single piece of stout springwire bent into a bail shape, curved in the direction of its length and having its ends terminating in pintles to engage the apertured ends thereof, said locking-lever adapted to pass through the slotted plate, as set forth.

2. The combination in a fastener device as described, with the plate l, adapted to be secured to one of the collar ends, and the slotted plate l;t hinged to the plate 1; of the spring-metal plate 2, adapted to be secured to the other collar end, said plate 2 having integral lateral projections bent outwardly to form a pair of oppositely-disposed ears, each of said ears 'being apertured and having their outer extremity bent inwardly and the front portions of said extremity formed with a cam extension ac, and the lever 3 formed with a single piece of spring-wire bent into a bail shape and having its ends bent into oppositely-projected pintles to engage the apertures in the cam-equipped ears, said lever 3 being adapted to be held to its locked position by the cam extension t of the cam-equipped ears, for the purposes described.

WILLIAM J. BAKER. Witnesses:

HENRY M. MAHER, HARRY L. HAWKINS. 

